Warwick truckie saved baby from burning wreckage

IT was just another night on the road for interstate truck driver Brad Morrison when his life changed forever.

The Warwick man was driving his truck on the Cunningham Hwy towards Brisbane on November 14, 2013 when he came across a two vehicle crash at Aratula.

A prime mover had hit a Holden sedan pushing it 95 metres along the road before bursting into flames and trapping 21-year-old driver Sharee Harvey and her nine-month-old daughter Paige Costello inside the car.

Ms Harvey was killed in the crash, but Mr Morrison will soon be recognised for his courage for rescuing Paige, now nearly three years old, with an Australian Bravery Medal.

"I was one of the first one the scene and saw the car was on fire and the truck was sitting on top of it," Mr Morrison said.

"I didn't think about any of the dangers, I just saw the state of the car and the fire and ran straight over and heard the baby crying in the back and climbed in to get her out.

"They're saying I'm brave because the car was on fire but I just did what I thought was right."

Mr Morrison said although he felt honoured by the award, he did not need the recognition to know he did the right thing.

"It was a pretty terrible night and it was definitely emotional for me," he said.

"I attended the funeral of the lady who was killed in the car and I still keep in touch with the family to this day.

"It was like nothing I'd experienced before and it's not an easy thing to go through but it's also not something you really need to think about doing.

"It's not something you do for recognition, it's just instincts kicking in and you do what has to be done."

Mr Morrison will be among 24 recipients of the national Bravery Medal award to be presented by the Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

"I found out a few months ago that they were considering me but they only last week told me I would actually be receiving it," Mr Morrison said.

"I got a Highway Guardian Award but I wasn't expecting anything on this sort of level - I haven't told anyone about it so it was a bit of a shock.

"I hope I can attend the ceremony, I'm not even sure when it is yet."

Sir Cosgrove said Australia was fortunate Mr Morrison and others were willing to put themselves in harm's way for others.

"For over 40 years these honours have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models," he said.